Acid Reflux Alternative

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Q: What would you recommend besides medicine for Heart burn(Acid Reflux)?
I really haven’t had to take anything in the past several years for my Acid Reflux problem. I notice within the past week it has flared up again. I don’t like taking pills because of the side effects. I rather try something natural to remedy the problem. I am open for suggestions that might be helpful as an alternative to prescription medicine.

A: Incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter allows reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, causing burning pain. Prolonged reflux may lead to esophagitis, stricture, and rarely metaplasia. Diagnosis is clinical, sometimes with endoscopy, with or without acid testing. Treatment involves lifestyle modification, acid suppression using proton pump inhibitors, and sometimes surgery.
Certain foods and lifestyle are considered to promote gastroesophageal reflux:
* Coffee, alcohol, and excessive amounts of Vitamin C supplements are stimulants of gastric acid secretion. Taking these before bedtime especially can promote evening reflux. Calcium containing antacids are in this group.
* Foods high in fats and smoking reduce lower esophageal sphincter competence, so avoiding these tends to help, as well. Fat also delays emptying of the stomach.
* Having more but smaller meals also reduces the risk of GERD, as it means there is less food in the stomach at any one time.
* avoid eating for 2 hours before bedtime
* avoid soft drinks
* avoid chocolate and peppermint
* avoid spicy foods
* avoid acidic foods like oranges and tomatoes (however, they are okay when fresh.)
* avoid cruciferous vegetables: onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, brussel sprouts
* milk and milk-based products contain calcium and fat, so should be avoided before bedtime.
Please see the web pages for more details on Gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD).

Q: Should I medicate my 5 month old who has acid reflux?
My son began fussing while nursing at 3 weeks of age and his doctor suggested giving him mylanta or maalox. That did not seem to help, so next we tried Axid. This seemed to increase his vomiting and did nothing to help him feed more comfortably. I also went to an alternative health center that gave him and I supplements to take which also were not helpful. My son is now 5 months old and is growing well, but he is fussing more and I am beginning to lose my patience with him. On top of this, he wants to eat every 2 hours, so I’m constantly battling with him. Should I continue my struggle or go on to try stronger medication?

A: Reflux occurs during the first three months of age in more than half of all infants. Many babies don’t require treatment. Referred to as “happy spitters,” their symptoms usually disappear between 12 and 18 months of age. However, for a small number of babies, symptoms of reflux are severe, and medical evaluation and treatment is needed.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux in Infants
Common infant GER symptoms are:
Frequent spitting up or vomiting
Irritability when feeding
Refusing food or eating only small amounts
Sudden or constant crying
Arching the back while feeding
“Wet” burps
Frequent hiccups
Frequent coughing
Poor sleep habits with frequent waking
Bad breath
A small number of infants will experience the following less common symptoms:

Difficulty swallowing
Frequent sore throat
Weight loss or poor weight gain
Respiratory problems (such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, wheezing)
Frequent ear or sinus infections
Excessive drooling
Hoarse voice
Spells of not breathing

Diagnosing Acid Reflux in Infants
If your baby is healthy and growing well, the doctor may make a diagnosis of reflux on a parent’s description of symptoms and feeding history, and a physical exam alone. However, your baby’s doctor may order tests if he or she suspects a more serious condition, such as GERD. In these cases, diagnostic tests may include:
Lab tests. This can consist of various blood and urine tests to identify or rule out possible causes of recurring vomiting and poor weight gain.

Esophageal pH monitoring. This test will measure the acidity in your baby’s esophagus.

Upper endoscopy. A tube with a camera lens and light is inserted through your baby’s mouth and into esophagus and stomach. The doctor may use this procedure to see if there is a narrowing (stricture) or inflammation (esophagitis) in the esophagus.

Treating Acid Reflux in Infants
Treatment of infant reflux depends on the severity of the problem. Your baby’s doctor may decide no treatment is needed, that the reflux will disappear on it’s own as your baby grows older. For most babies, reflux will resolve itself during the first year of life. If your baby is otherwise healthy, is happy, and is growing, the doctor may recommend a few lifestyle changes for your baby in order to ease the reflux problem.
If the reflux is more serious, or if your baby has been diagnosed with GERD, the doctor may prescribe a prescription medication or over-the-counter remedy to help treat the reflux. These remedies include:

Antacids – These neutralize stomach acid. These include Tums, Mylanta, and Maalox.

Acid Suppressers – These suppress acid production in the stomach. These include Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac. and Axid.

Acid Blockers – These completely block acid production in the stomach. Prilosec and Prevacid have been approved for children over certain ages.
It is very important to discuss treatment options with your baby’s doctor before beginning any treatment method, especially before using any over-the-counter remedy.

Points to Remember About Acid Reflux in Infants
GER occurs when stomach contents back up (reflux) into the esophagus.

GER is common in infants, especially during the first three months of age, but for most babies, it will disappear as they grow older.

Treatment will depend on your baby’s symptoms and age. Treatment can include lifestyle changes, prescription or over the counter remedies, or a combination of both.

Q: What is the best thing to take for my acid reflux?
I always have excess gas in my stomach, and am tired if taking of taking prescription drugs. Are there any herbal or other alternatives

A: Hi Bob. I’ve had this for years and, like many, it’s my own fault. Carrying too much weight, high BMI, eating too much and too close to bedtime, no exercise etc. I’m including a couple links. I recommend the MSNBC one as it shows natural (drug free) ways to eliminate the problem. I use Prilosec once daily with good results.

In almost all studies, lifestyle factors are associated with reflux symptoms in the general population. The most important lifestyle risk factors were overweight/obese, the consumption of spirits and smoking.

On the non-prescription side, Pepcid and Zantac 150mg do a pretty good job and should work for you. Ultimately though, you can undue the good the medication can do by eating too much or too late at night, or eating spicy foods. Pasta sauce is a frequent trigger that breaks through the medication for me. Good luck Bob.

Q: I have been suffering from acid reflux for 10 years. I currently take Nexium, does celery, apples, etc help??
I take Nexium twice a day and the last month has been really bad, im looking for an alternative solution and have an upper GI scheduled this week.

A: Get your colon cleaned out !
The stomach acid has no where else to go but up.
Then throw away the anti-acids and all the prescription junk used to get rid of the precious stomach acid you really need to break down your food. Start taking double doses of Dr.Ohirra’s Pro-biotics. These will replace the good flora in you gut.
I guarantee you…you will be diagnosed with leaky gut syndrome.
Please stop taking these acid inhibitors,they lead to digestive disorders. The main side effect of Nexium is esophageal cancer. Hello,isn’t that the reason for taking the meds to start with…to prevent this ?
Dr.Ohhira’s Probiotics
Health & Wellness Products-Probiotics

http://www.essentialformulas.com/base.cgim?no_main_templates=1&template=product_12plus

Q: what are alternative to stomach crunches?
I need to get rid of a stomach bulge. Are there any alternatives to crunches? I have acid reflux problems and when I perform crunches or any rigorous physical activity, it makes my stomach problem worse. Please suggest any alternatives to get rid of some fat around the the stomach. Thank you.

A: Laughing,running,swimming any good cardio activity. Crunches only do part of the work they define the muscules but the other is the burning of fat.

Q: are Probiotic Acidophilus good for Acid Reflux?
I have acid reflux, and I was taking prilosec. But my doctor said I can’t be on it forever. I’m looking for other alternatives, and is probiotic acidophilus good for acid reflux?

A: The valve that guards your esophagus (failure of this valve allows fluid to rise back into your mouth) can be strengthened by consuming more protein such as low fat turkey or chicken breast, skimmed milk, fish and beans. If you take your acidophilus in the form of yoghurt then it will help you in two ways, it is high in protein and will help in the same way as the proteins previously mentioned. The acidophilus will also improve your immune system from other problems. Good luck.

Q: Coffee substitute for acid reflux sufferers?
Hello everyone.

I am looking for opinions on acid reflux and coffee. I have been drinking a lot of coffee (5-8 cups a day) for, oh, as long as I can remember basically, and while I have been told that coffee worsens my acid reflux, I still cannot see myself doing completely without!

I have found this article on “Heartburn Coffee”.
http://www.acidreflex.biz/Heartburn-Coffee.php
It talks about a low acid coffee that supposedly is suitable for people afflicted with GERD/acid reflux.

Then there’s this article
http://www.thedietchannel.com/Coffee-Alternatives-for-Coffee-Addicts.htm
on Coffee Alternatives, but I’m not sure how excited I can get about Siberian Ginseng or Roasted Dandelion Root tea…

So, I wanted to see if anyone out there had any experiences with the suggested possibilities or other suggestions on how to battle my coffee cravings!

A: take two prilosec before you drink coffee

Q: Acid Reflux Help Please!!?
I have had a serious case of acid reflux for over a year now. I originally took prilosec but I would get intense hives as an allergic reaction. I went to a GI doctor and was prescribed dexilant however I began getting a reaction to that as well. While at school I saw another doctor and he prescribed me another kind of medicine, Zantac (Ranitidine). I think I have allergies to Ranitidine and types of omeprazole. The doctor mentioned a procedure in which I can make the opening to my stomach smaller to prevent some acid from coming back up. Has anyone had this procedure done…or does anybody know of alternative medicines? Thank you for your help!

A: I have several friends who have had the stomach wrap procedure, and although it helped with the acid reflux, it presents many other problems they have to deal with. Go to a health food store and try to cure it naturally before you opt for the surgery. there are many natural herbs and things available to us that may not be covered by insurance, but if they cure you of the reflux and you don’t have to have the surgery, it is a good payoff in my opinion.

Q: Have both acid reflux and abnormal cravings for food while full…?
I’m a thirteen year old girl, and I think that I eat way more than I should. But I’m skinny and healthy – I’m 5″3 and 95 pounds. Whenever I eat, it’s ALWAYS something healthy – like oatmeal or broccoli or granola bars. Also, I feel full but I KEEP ON EATING – it’s like my mouth craves the taste. It was ok before, because as I said I always eat healthy things and I exercise at least 30 minutes every day.

The thing is, I was just recently diagnosed with acid reflux. Now I can’t eat as much as before, but I can’t stop it! I’m full but my mouth really, really craves the taste! Help, please! =(

How can I stop eating so much and is it normal to have cravings like that while I’m full?

(BTW: I don’t like gum, so please don’t offer that as an alternative.)

A: No, this could be the possible start of either an eating disorder, or you may need your thyroid checked. When was the last time yo saw a doctor as you really need to see one asap. These problems can not be ignored and can only diagnosed through a full physical with blood work and maybe some kind of x-rays. Please let your mom know so she can make you an appointment. The sooner you do this, the faster you can find the problem. Good luck and God Bless

Q: Any advice on baby acid reflux?
My son is 14 weeks old and had acid reflux from birth. The doctor finally prescribed baby gaviscon for him at about 6 weeks old. At first he was on 1 sachet each feed, which worked wonders almost instantly. The reflux started coming back at about 12 weeks old. I thought it maybe as his feeds had increased so i now use 2 sachets per 9oz feed.

It doesn’t seem to be helping very much anymore. His symptoms are no where near as bad as before he was on the gaviscon, but it is definately coming back.

My little guy is in pain after feeds, is sick horrible smelly clear fluid (even though he only drinks milk), his back is rigid and arching all the time and hic-ups are back too.

I plan to book a Dr’s appointment asap, but does anyone know if there is anymore the Dr can do to help? Is there an alternative medicine we can try? What is the next stage if the gaviscon stops working all together?

Any help or advice will be appreciated

A: take him back to the doctors and ask for something else, maye consider changing his milk. i found sma made my daughters reflux worse so i changed her to aptamil and she took to it a lot better, for my daughter infant gaviscon stopped the reflux completely once i stopped giving it to her thats the case for most babies so the fact he still has it needs a doctors appointment to see what the next step is.

Q: What food can I eat to cure my acid reflux?
What food can I eat to cure my acid reflux?
I know that acid reflux can be cured by eating certain foods and elevating the head while sleeping, and eating smaller meals, etc…

But I do not know what foods I can eat. Does anyone know what foods I should eat?

and please- no blurbs about me taking drugs or what to avoid- i know all that- I want foods to “HEAL” it
why else would i put this under alternative medicine- i want a cure without drugs- everyimte i ask someone tells me to avoid foods and what drugs to use and that’s not what I am asking

besides foods to me are the best medicine- esp when eating certain foods can cure

A: I have had problems with acid reflux too, a friend suggested that I eat yogurt with active acidophilus in it. It seems that too much acid in your stomach hurts the “good” bacteria in your stomach, and because you have less “good” bacteria in your stomach it makes more acid. Any way I started eating yogurt with active cultures of acidophilus before every meal and in about a month I was off the previcid and haven’t used it for over 2 years now..

Q: What is the best way to fight acid reflux?
Normally i’d take a Tums and that would be it, but last week i had such a bad case of acidity in my stomach, i had to eat like three or four a day.

It occurred to me that it couldn’t be good to eat so much calcium, and the damn thing wasn’t ending, so i switched to Maalox, and it seems to be working.

But maalox has Aluminium Hydroxide in it….is that even non-poisonous?

I tried to buy peptobismol, but couldn’t find it……my guess was that anything with Bismuth in it, as horrific as it sounds, was not absorbed by the intestines…..so that would be OK, right?

What other options are there, what alternative options are there (i usually go for baking soda), how good are the options i mentioned earlier….?

And also, i ate a lot of salt last week, could that have caused it?

Feel free to give me a lecture on acid reflux

A: Apart from taking medication for reflux one of the most important ways to fight acid reflux disease is with positional therapy. This sounds technical but is actually only elevating your sleeping position so that your chest area is higher than your stomach.

also see http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/acid_reflux.html

Q: How to control Heartburn ? and what’s the natural alternative ?
I’ve been facing alot of Heartburn these days , I dunno what to eat anymore because i’m afraid i’ll experience another acid reflux , so I want to know what are the Alkaline Foods ? (Some people say Lemon is Alkaline , But it’s filled with citric acid ! that’s quite contradicting) , What is the natural alternative to this situation rather than taking over the counter Anti-acids because apparently they don’t work , and what works for a quick relief of Hyperacidity ?

Thank You

A: So, what is the first resort in heartburn treatment? Aim to prevent it in the first place, and for that, a change in eating habits is a good place to start. Many foods have a reputation for causing heartburn, including onions, garlic, hot and spicy foods, fatty or greasy foods, fried foods and highly acidic foods, like tomatoes and citrus. Chocolate and coffee are also common culprits. In addition, the way you eat is sometimes just as important as what you eat. People who eat especially quickly, who lay down after a big meal or who simply eat too much, are often more prone to heartburn. When you eat too much too fast, without chewing well, the stomach must produce more acid to break down food, creating problems for you down the line. Therefore, in addition to paying attention to the types of foods you eat, and avoiding those that trigger heartburn, you must also be aware of portion size and how quickly you eat.

If you do start to feel heartburn coming on, one of the first things you should do is drink water. F. Batmanghelidj in “Water for Health Healing” writes that heartburn really begins as just “thirst pains” — a signal of a water shortage in the body. Batmanghelidj suggests treating this pain with water rather than medication.

Finally, it is important to bear in mind that it is not just food choices that can contribute to heartburn. Stress can also be a factor, as well as any prescription or over-the-counter drug you might be taking. This may surprise some people, but the drugs you take can lead to indigestion and heartburn. Aspirin, for example, has been shown to contribute to heartburn when taken in high doses, as has Ibuprofen. Anti-inflammatory drugs often cause heartburn in addition to more serious problems, such as death from sudden gastric hemorrhage. Certain calcium-channel blocking drugs, asthma drugs, beta-blocking drugs used to lower blood pressure and anticholinergics used to treat Parkinson’s Disease may also cause heartburn, as can birth control pills, diazepam, nicotine, nitroglycerine, progesterone, provera and theophylline.

With the number of people eating poor diets and taking multiple prescription drugs in this country, it is no wonder, according to statistics given by Drs. Marc R. and Michael R. Rose in “Save Your Sight,” that more than half of all people over 40 experience heartburn once a month., according to Drs. Marc R. and Michael R. Rose in Save Your Sight. If you frequently suffer from heartburn, it may be time to reevaluate what’s in your diet or what’s in your medicine cabinet. Talk to your doctor about how you can reduce your risk just by changing your lifestyle.

The experts speak on heartburn

Q: Acid Reflux Help???
I have acid reflux but every prescripion drug makes my stomach hurt. So is there any Over the counter alternatives I should try? I already know about prilosec OTC. So other than that?

A: When I developed acid reflux, I looked up a list of acidic foods. This list is the one that I like the most as it is pretty simple and color coded.
My point: instead of treating the symptoms (acid reflux) try treating the underlying cause of the symptoms (you’re eating highly acidic foods, no doubt, which is causing your acid reflux). Try eating a more alkaline diet for a few weeks, and staying away from beef, carbonated drinks, artificial stuff, then slowly reintroduce them back into your diet if you feel you must.

Q: relief from acid reflux?
I have battled a sinus infection for awhile now, i finally went into the doctor who prescribed an antibiotic that has given me pretty bad acid reflux. i finally went back in on monday and was prescribed Aciphex once a day and sulfacrate four times a day to coat my stomach. She said i could still take pepcid twice a day also. it’s not going away. i realize this takes time, but it’s worse at night. i went to bed last night (on the couch because that seems to be the only place i can sleep right now.) and i woke up an hour later hurting so bad. I chew lots of gum drink loads of water and am keeping to a pretty bland diet, no pop, spicy or fried and no seasonings. does anyone out there have any ideas or alternatives for some relief?

thank you so much!

A: Welcome to modern medicine. The sinus infection has two basic root causes that are overlooked by the medical community. If you have had a sinus infection for more than 3 months, the doctors will tell you that it is chronic and you will have to live with this for the rest of your life. The acid reflux is due to the LACK OF STOMACH ACID, not too much! The antibiotics killed all your intestinal flora and that is 3/4 of your immune system and responsible for bad digestion. So by treating the symptoms, you are getting the booby prize, BAD HEALTH. Does that sound like a good thing to you?

If you have a toxic liver, you will get sinus problems. A bad diet and other chemicals, etc., including taking medications, will damage the liver and can cause this problem. BAD DENTAL is the biggest and most common thing causing sinus problems today. The dental industry is not our friend. In fact, the FDA has just now decided that amalgam fillings are bad for you and that decision was only brought about because of a law suit levied against the FDA putting them on the spot. The evidence was and is overwhelming. The ADA (American Dental Association) is now being put on notice that their stance to protect dentists all these years is in jeopardy and they are running scared. The root canal procedures used by dentists are even worse than the amalgam issue. Using things like gutta percha to fill the canals encourages bacterial growth and NICO (deterioration of the jaw bone) is rampant as a result. Since no pain is felt from this, the dentist choose to ignore it, leaving you, the victim again, and infections that can spread to the SINUSES! The teeth roots go into the sinus area and are causing most of the chronic sinus problems. So unless you address the teeth problem, you again, get the booby prize and are left to be treated by some doctor that treats the “symptoms,” not the “root cause” and you get the CHRONIC issue that never seems to get resolved.

I strongly recommend you see a QRA practitioner that can test you to find out where the “root cause” of this problem you are having is coming from and if it is teeth, you need to find a good dentist to work along with you to truly fix the problem(s). You are going to need good probiotics, fermented foods, digestive solutions, some very good nutritional advice.

good luck to you

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